THUNDER BAY Chapter H.O.G.®
# 9115
www.thunderbayhog.com
January 2017 - From The Past Director Happy New Year and may this be your best riding season.
This is your chapter and the officers are trying to do what we think that the members want. That
includes rides and other events/activities. Please tell us what you want, especially if it’s not already planned.
Thanks to retiring officers: Shena and David
Welcome the new officer: Brad Holbrough who will be the Head Road Captain
The Chapter Charter renewal application has been sent in. This is an annual requirement to maintain
our charter and good standing with the Harley Owners
Group®. Chapters cannot exist without a sponsoring
dealer; in our case Thunder Bay Harley-Davidson.
Remember that the reason for the chapter is to “Ride and
Have Fun”.
Our HOG® crests, clothing and pins all have to
come from Norscot in the United States. They
previously made changes to the issues of shipping,
quantities and cost of H.O.G.® merchandise to Canada.
Dollar exchange rates and shipping still add significant
costs making it hard for the chapter to invest in stocking
much product. The ones that make the most sense are
the rockers that are specific to the chapter since buying a
quantity brings the price down and a few of the most
requested HOG® crests.
If you are interested in being a ride leader this
summer please speak to Brad, Trent or myself. We have
been working toward having enough depth in ride
leaders that each person need only lead two or three
rides per summer.
And lastly we are currently trying to fill the
position of Director. If you are interested please speak to
Ken Armenti or myself.
Rob “resigned to be the Past Director” Kavanagh
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The Chapter mileage program is specific to our Chapter and separate from the HOG® mileage
program that you can also participate in.
In 2016: 4 women and 19 men participated in our mileage program.
Longest distance women Ruth Brickell (13,473), Linda Vetterli (12,355), Joanne Kavanagh (9,662)
Longest distance men Ted Ciotucha (26,423), John Trevisanutto (24,300), Willy Skinn (22,991)
This year’s women’s total registered mileage was 37,343 and men’s total mileage was 227,853 for a
grand total of 265,196 kilometres.
Mystery distance was 2,017 km
Mystery distance women Annie Macsemchuk
Mystery distance men Dan Macsemchuk
Please give Ken Armenti your starting and ending mileage this year! Feel free to use the attached form.
Something interesting; 1994 Mileage Merit Winners
1st place Men’s Division – Byron Blomfeldt 11,668 miles
1st place Women’s Division – Sandy Broome 2,830 miles
There was no second or third place winner in either gender that year as no one else handed in their
mileage.
You need to be a National member in order to be a Chapter member. You are not required to join a
chapter and we thank you for wanting to be part of this chapter. You may also join more than one chapter.
This may be important for people who winter south and want to meet and ride with people who share the
passion for riding Harley-Davidson® motorcycles.
Our chapter annual dues are $15 and haven’t increased in the time I’ve been a member. The year ends
at the end of November. HOG® requires we have a signed membership form and waiver annually. We are not
allowed to have a multi-year membership for that reason.
Thunder Bay H.O.G.® Chapter Mileage Program
2017 Thunder Bay Members Only Event
Name: ____________________________________________________ 2017 Chapter Card Verified ______
Bike Model (Harley or Buell Only) _____________________________________ Year: _________________
Beginning Mileage: ___________________________ Odometer measures: km or miles
Ending Mileage: _____________________________ Date: _____________________________
Turn in this completed form to Ken at the Harley shop by Wednesday November 1, 2017.
Now get out there and ``Ride, and have Fun``!
Thunder Bay H.O.G.® Chapter Mileage Program
2017 Thunder Bay Members Only Event
Name: ____________________________________________________ 2017 Chapter Card Verified ______
Bike Model (Harley or Buell Only) _____________________________________ Year: _________________
Beginning Mileage: ___________________________ Odometer measures: km or miles
Ending Mileage: _____________________________ Date: _____________________________
Turn in this completed form to Ken at the Harley shop by Wednesday November 1, 2017.
Now get out there and ``Ride, and have Fun``!
www.thunderbayhog.com
What are HOG® Rallies and why should you attend?
HOG® rallies and event can be as different as night and day, from a long weekend in cool and cloudy to
a week-long tour under a blazing Southwestern sun.
A few years ago HOG® changed how they named rallies from state or provincial rallies to regional
rallies. A number of areas, especially with smaller states or provinces, were already using the concept of
regions. If you look at this year’s rally list you see a significant change from last year, in that every rally has
fully evolved to a regional rally.
You may obtain information on line as well as doing online registration. To do this you need to log on
to your H.O.G.® account at www.hog.com. Another source of information is the HOG® magazine, December
2016.
Once you are logged in to your account, you may go to "Events", then "HOG® Rallies". You then
select the rally you wish to attend. If you want to go to Canada, click the country near the top. There will also
be tabs for "Schedule", "Rides", as well as "Lodging".
According to the magazine there are 22 North American rallies this year. The first one is the Deep
South starting April 6th and the last is the Southeast November 1-4. A few will overlap or happen at the same
time. Given enough time and money you could spend eight months riding around the continent to different
rallies, although one is in Hawaii so you might have to fly and rent.
The closest rally to Thunder Bay is the Great Lakes Rally in Sault Ste. Marie. It’s in mid-August so it could be
combined with an around the lake (Superior) tour.
There are four rallies in Canada. Two are west of Thunder Bay and two are east of us. The neatest will
likely be the Canadian National Rally since it not only celebrates Canadas 150 years as a nation but also the
100 years that the Motor Company has been in Canada.
Most of the rallies are stay in one spot and do activities including riding in the local area. A few are
riding rallies, start one place and end up another. In the past one of ones of interest to me was a music themed
rally which started in New Orleans and ended in Cleveland. This year you could do the Lewis and Clark rally
which starts in Portland Oregon and ends in St. Louis, Missouri. It involves about 13 days plus travel time to
Portland and return from St. Louis. As a guess using Google, the rally portion of the trip would be over 2,000
miles. Add a direct trip there and home the total distance would be somewhere around 7,800 km. Want
something to do on the way home, go to the H-D assembly plant in Kansas City, the National Motorcycle
Museum and then the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee, WI.
The US National Rally will be the Labour Day weekend in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Every 5 years
coinciding with anniversary of Harley-Davidson® there is a rally in Milwaukee. Annually the 4 local dealers in
Milwaukee host the Milwaukee Rally which is essentially a three day poker run with the casino and the H-D
Museum. So I expect some celebration next year for the 115th Anniversary also, but if you want to practice
think about this year as well. You could ride straight there or circle Lake Superior or some other less direct
route including riding down the east coast of Lake Michigan and taking a ferry across the lake.
There are also HOG® pin stops such as at Friday the 13th in Port Dover. One of these could be your reason for
a trip. You may want to skip this specific one if you suffer from Triskaidekaphobia.
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Another HOG® program that you could participate in along the way is the ABCs of Touring. Find out
more on HOG.com https://members.hog.com/en_CA/website/main.jsp
Whatever you do, please consider sharing a short write-up of your trip with some pictures with the
chapter through the Pig Pen newsletter.
The National Rally is taking place in Ottawa July 27-29, 2017
Bud Ranger and his Rally Committee are working
hard planning this year’s rally in Ottawa. Site selection is
being finalized and plans are being coordinated with Harley-
Davidson© Canada to put on an event that will celebrate
Canada’s 150th birthday as well as the 100th anniversary of
Harley-Davidson® in Canada.
Celebrating 100 Years of Harley-Davidson® in Canada
in 2017 is more than enough reason to convert what was
intended to be a regional rally in the Nation’s Capital of
Ottawa, into a national call to all HOG® members. It is sure to
be an event which will be remembered for years to come.
Join the party as the scenic Nation’s Capital plays host
to the 2017 Canadian National HOG® Rally!
Cruise the Capital - our Rally’s motto - captures the true
essence of the rally. An epic opportunity for riders to
experience the Capital and surrounding areas: the Ottawa
Valley and it’s hand- carved Highlands, the famous 1000 Islands, as well as the breathtaking hills of Gatineau
Park - all from the seat of a Harley-Davidson® motorcycle.
Although event agendas are still being built,
Thursday, July 26, 2017 will be a welcome activity evening.
Friday, July 28, will include many beautiful ride-out options throughout the Ottawa region. Freedom
Harley-Davidson® of Ottawa – the host dealer – also welcomes all rally-goers to party at the store
alongside live entertainment and delicious food that evening.
Saturday’s celebration starts with a monumental parade, a show’n’shine competition, as well as some
amazing bike games. A Canadian Harley-Davidson® celebration would not be complete without an
evening of entertainment as legendary as the HOG® members themselves. Attendees can expect top-
shelf performers in a one-of-a-kind atmosphere.
Join us as we celebrate the world’s most legendary motorcycle, it’s riders, and their stories in true
Northern fashion.
Registration is open now and will be done online. Registration deadline is Sunday, Jul 09, 2017.
Come see us at the Canadian Motorcycle Show in Toronto, February 17-19 for more details. Or check out
HOG.com in the section for events and then HOG® Rallies.
The Event Guide Book will have information regarding self-guided and host-guided rides.
There isn’t a host hotel. Members are encouraged to secure their own lodging in the Ottawa region. Festivities
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will be shared between dealership and downtown Ottawa.
Willy and Heidi Skinn and Frank Smale are planning to attend the rally. If you are interested in being
part of the group, whether you travel on your own or with a group please consider contacting one of them.
Hotel space is already at a premium, so making a commitment and getting a room nearby is imperative.
How much riding do you want to do this summer?
The chapter rides are Tuesday nights, meeting at 6:30 and leaving at 7:00 PM. Please consult the
calendar for more information.
We need people to organize and lead longer rides. The rides could be local and consist of a medium to
longer distance one day ride that starts and ends in Thunder Bay.
The day rides could be with a spin to stop at appropriate sports to collect ABC’s of Touring pictures.
Another option might be rides that leave Friday night or Saturday morning and return Sunday night. They can
be in north western Ontario or the northern central states. A series of rides that happened in the past years
were called “Rural America Ride”.
Choose the Canadian National Rally or the US National Rally or both. Either would be at minimum
four days but could easily be a fun week or so.
Want an even longer trip? Consider the Lewis and Clark riding rally or talk to Ted about joining the
Twisted Throttle. Ted’s trip normally goes at the beginning of June. This year for several reasons he is
travelling in August to the destination of Los Angeles and return. The total length of the trip will likely be
around four weeks. This trip has not been planned out but will likely leave during the week of August 7th and
return to Thunder Bay around September 8th. Want an adventure? Talk to Ted!
The reason you own a motorcycle is yours alone, hopefully nobody forced you into a purchase. How
much you ride and to where is also up to you. The philosophy of HOG® is to ride and have fun. Sharing the
journey whether with a friend or a group of friends often can add to the enjoyment.
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It’s too cold outside to go riding, so come and socialize with us the third Wednesday of
the month. Enjoy a pound of wings or anything else on the menu, while we dream of riding or
start to plan our next ride.
On one of the colder, snowier nights of
January, the LNO had its biggest turnout yet. Meeting
at the Fort William Curling Club, we visited and
watched while waiting for 3 of our ladies to finish
curling their tie game. Lots of visiting and good food
enjoyed by all. Montana’s will be the next location on
February 7th at 6:30. Note that LNO will be a week
earlier because of Valentine’s Day.
February 7,
March 14 and April 11
February 15,
March 15 and April 19
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In 1994 Paul Reubsam was the historian and had a regular newsletter submission of Harley, HOG® and
chapter trivia questions. Here’s a sampling of some of them. Some are Harley-Davidson® history and others
are very local specific. Some may seem rather easy while others require a bit of local knowledge. I didn’t
know that Paul had been a HOG® and chapter member so this was interesting to me on several levels.
Do you know your Harley-Davidson®?
By Paul Reubsam
1. What date was the Thunder Bay HOG® Chapter officially formed?
2. How much money did the Thunder Bay HOG® raise at the first Terry Coombes Memorial Ice Breaker
Run, May 11, 1991?
3. What year was the Evolution engine introduced?
4. What does the C on XLCH stand for?
5. How many cubic inches in 1000 cc?
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Jan 10th Tuesday 6:30 PM Ladies Night Out gathering - all HOG® ladies are welcome to attend
Jan 18th Wednesday 5:30 PM Wing Night @ Galaxy
Jan 29th Sunday 10:00 AM Breakfast/ General Meeting - River Rock Café in the Airlane
Feb 7th Tuesday 6:30 PM Ladies Night Out gathering - all HOG® ladies are welcome to attend
Feb 11th Saturday 6:30 PM Biker Bingo Bowling - Galaxy Lanes - Free for Chapter Members - Guests $10 - bowl @ 7:00
Feb 15th Wednesday 5:30 PM Wing Night @ Galaxy
Feb 26th Sunday 10:00 AM Chapter Breakfast - Fireside Room in the Landmark
Mar 14th Tuesday 6:30 PM Ladies Night Out gathering - all HOG® ladies are welcome to attend
Mar 15th Wednesday 5:30 PM Wing Night @ Galaxy
Mar 17th or 18th 6:30 PM
Biker Bingo Bowling - Galaxy Lanes - Free for Chapter Members - Guests $10 - bowl @ 7:00
the bowling will be on Friday or Saturday.
Mar 22nd Wednesday Harley-Davidson 101 - Thunder Bay Harley-Davidson
Mar 26th Sunday 10:00 AM Chapter Breakfast -
Apr 11th Tuesday 6:30 PM Ladies Night Out gathering - all HOG® ladies are welcome to attend
April 19th Wednesday 5:30 PM Wing Night @ Galaxy
April 30th Sunday 10:00 AM Chapter Breakfast -
May 2nd Tuesday 6:30 PM 1st 2 Wheel-Tuesday Nite Ride of the Summer - Every Tuesday @ TB H-D®-all Summer - Rides leave @ 7:00 PM
May 13th Saturday 11:00 AM Terry Coombes Memorial Ice Breaker Run & Blessing of the Bikes - Terry Fox Lookout Hwy 11/17
May 28th Sunday 10:00 AM Chapter Breakfast -
June 3rd Saturday Thunder Bay Harley-Davidson's 40th Birthday Party
June 17th Saturday 8:30 AM 16th Annual Bell Motorcycle Ride for Dad - Victoria Inn parking lot
June 17th Saturday All Day Run to the Border – Stratton, ON (Fort Frances) Bike Raffle and Festival
June 19th Monday All Day International "Ride-to-Work Day" www.ridetowork.org
June 25th Sunday 10:00 AM Chapter Breakfast/ Ride -
July 22nd Saturday Thunder Bay Harley-Davidson's Poker Run
July 23rd Sunday 9:30 AM "Meet in the Middle" Ride - Thunder Bay Harley® - Arthur St. - Ride leaves at 10:00 AM
July 27-29 Thu - Sat All Day Canadian National H.O.G.® Rally - Ottawa, ON Registration deadline is Sunday, Jul 09, 2017
Aug 4 - 13 Mon - Sun All Day Sturgis Motorcycle Rally www.sturgismotorcyclerally.com
Aug 27th Sunday 10:00 AM Breakfast/ Ride -
Aug 30 - Sep 4 Wed -Sun All Day Wharf Rat Rally, Digby, Nova Scotia www.wharfratrally.com; HOG® Pin Stop
Aug 31 - Sep 2 Thu – Sun All Day US National HOG® Rally, Milwaukee, WI
Thunder Bay H.O.G.® Chapter Calendar 2017 rev. January 9/16
The weather is warming, get you and your motorcycle ready to ride.
Hope for sunshine,
Warm weather and minimal rain
Canada Day
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Early Bird Registration by February 28, 2017
Adult Ticket CAD $75
Youth (12 & U) CAD $60
Visit the Canadian National H.O.G. Rally Facebook events page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/232097787237617/
Sept 5th Tuesday 6:00 PM 2 Wheel Tuesday starts early - Ride leaves at 6:30 PM
Sept 9th Saturday 4:00 PM Corn Roast & BBQ - Members free; Friends $10.00
Sept 13th-17th Wed - Sun All Day 36th Annual Tomahawk Fall Ride - Tomahawk, WI www.tomahawkfallride.com
Sept 16th Saturday 12:00 PM Toys for Tots - Meet at Thunder Bay Harley-Davidson® at 12:00 PM Ride leaves at 1:00 PM
Sept 23rd Saturday 9:00 AM Gunflint Trail Ride Meet @ Thunder Bay Harley® - Ride leaves at 9:30 AM - Passport required
Sept 26th Tuesday 6:00 PM Last 2 Wheel Tuesday of the year - Ride leaves at 6:30 PM
Oct 29th Sunday 10:00 AM Chapter Breakfast -
Nov 4th Saturday 6:30 PM 27th H.O.G.® Birthday Party/ Mileage Awards - Nor’Wester (RSVP by Tues Nov 1)
Nov 26th Sunday 10:00 AM Chapter Breakfast -
Dec 23rd Saturday 12:00 Noon Christmas Eve Open House at Thunder Bay Harley-Davidson®
Warm weather and minimal rain
Executive and Secondary Officers
Director: vacant
Assistant Director: Trent Grof [email protected]
Past Director: Rob Kavanagh [email protected]
Secretary: Jennifer LaVoie-Milani [email protected]
Treasurer: Keith Caverly [email protected]
Activities: Kat Ward [email protected]
Safety Officer: Terry Milani [email protected]
Head Road Captain: Brad Holbrough [email protected]
Newsletter Editor: Joanne Kavanagh [email protected]
Ladies of Harley: Ruth Brickell [email protected]
Membership: Willy Skinn [email protected]
Webmaster Ross Dykes [email protected]
Photographer: Vacant
Historian: Bob Kowalczyk [email protected]
Dealer’s HOG Liaison Ken Armenti [email protected]
HOG Chapter Manager: Mandie Ciotucha [email protected]
Sponsoring Dealer: Ted Ciotucha [email protected]
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